EVENTS

Pride in Sheffield and SIMA (Unite the Union) are proud to announce our partnership in delivering Sheffield’s 11th Pride. SIMA (Unite the Union) have made a huge donation to Pride in Sheffield, of £5,000. This amount of support is helping Pride In Sheffield make this year’s Pride bigger and better than ever, with 3 stages, 100 stalls, and a community tent.

“This year’s Pride is not about corporate sponsors. It has been 50 Year’s since the stone wall riots, an event which kickstarted the fight for LGBT rights, and this anniversary we are ensuring the community is at the front of Pride.”Rosie Strathearn-Brady, Pride in Sheffield – Co-Chair

The Trade Union movement has a long history of supporting the LGBT+ community, and this partnership is another sign of that close relationship. From the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM), who helped support the miners on strike during the 1980s, to the fight against Section 28, to impose restriction on the voice of gay people, joined by unions from far afield.

“SIMA (Unite the Union) are proud to be able to offer partnership to Pride in Sheffield 2019. Whilst we continue the struggle for workers rights and equality in the workplace, we recognise we have a duty to help support our communities and the rights of our LGBT+ members.”Andy Thompson, SIMA (Unite the Union) – Chair

Pride in Sheffield have also had support from a range of other community groups and Trade Unions, including the National Education Union, UCU and GMB.

“It is so fitting that Pride in our city is supported by the organised voice of steelworkers. We hope that this is the start of a new kind of Pride in Sheffield, one led by community groups, Trade Unions and political parties. It is time Pride has politics at the forefront again.”Dave Pike, Pride in Sheffield – Secretary

Pride in Sheffield is still looking for other sponsors and supporters if you would like to find out more please contact us at infor@prideinsheffield.net

SIMA Family members raise money for children’s heart surgery fund

Following the birth of their granddaughter on Boxing Day 2017, SIMA rep Russ Jackson and his family found that she had a rare congenital heart defect called TAPVC, at only one day old she underwent open heart surgery to help correct the problem. Now nine months old she has undergone a further two open heart surgeries and an operation on her diaphragm, she is now doing well after a difficult start to life.

Following the amazing care given by the Children’s Heart Surgery Unit at Leeds General Infirmary the family decided to enter the Great North Run to help raise money for the unit. SIMA were proud to sponsor them for the race. On the day both Russ’ wife and daughter completed the half marathon close to their predicted times and raised a grand total of £5310.

SIMA & Unite the union were proud to sponsor the 50th anniversary of the corby highland gathering on the 14th & 15th july

SIMA were happy to have been a major sponsor of Corby's Highland Gathering.

2018 was the 50th anniversary of Corby's Highland Gathering and to celebrate the event it was held over two days - Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th July. Speaking about the event Gary Buchan, SIMA Vice-President & Corby resident said 'SIMA & Unite the Union have a long standing relationship with Corby, the steel industry and other manufacturing businesses within the town. We are proud to sponsor and support the Corby Highland Gathering's 50th year anniversary'. The weekend was a massive success and we were able to speak to members of the local community about their issues and how SIMA & Unite can help them.

SIMA would like to thank the organisers for making the event the success that it was.

Over the last few years, Unite SIMA have played a part in the festival’s growth by actively supporting the festival to its members. With the 2017 festival being such a success it was felt that Unite SIMA wanted to ‘up the ante’ from 2018 onwards and agreed to support the festival on a grander scale.

Speaking after the event Lyn Williams (Merthyr Rising Director) said, "We're all pleased with the overall feedback of the event and with your ever-growing support the festival continues to be a success. This year the festival was attended by people all over the UK and other parts of the world who join us to celebrate the working class culture and resistance at the birthplace of the red flag"